Thursday, 29 November 2012

So, Leveson does believe in a 'conscience clause'

It seems that Lord Justice Leveson has listened to the NUJ's calls for a "conscience clause" in contracts to protect journalists from being sacked if they refuse to act unethically in pursuit of a story.

He says in hisReport
published today: "Finally, I was struck by the evidence of journalists who felt that
they might be put under pressure to do things that were unethical or
against the code. I therefore suggest that the new independent
self-regulatory body should establish a whistle-blowing hotline and
encourage its members to ensure that journalists’ contracts include a
conscience clause protecting them if they refuse."

In her evidence to
Leveson, NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet (pictured) gave
examples of bullying of staff in some newsrooms.

Stanistreet
said in a letter to NUJ members yesterday: “From the outset of the Leveson
inquiry, we demanded a conscience clause to safeguard journalists who
object to being made to act unethically in the pursuit of a story. The
industry – both the Press Complaints Commission and the Society of
Editors – has repeatedly refused to bring in a conscience clause,
despite the Home Affairs Select Committee backing this NUJ’s campaign as
long ago as 2003.

“We highlighted the vital role a
trade union plays in any workplace, and how in journalism the NUJ plays a
role in maintaining standards and standing up for ethical journalism,
as well as the bread and butter industrial issues of pay and conditions.

"We
explained to Lord Leveson that an NUJ workplace chapel is not simply
the vehicle for putting together pay claims and campaigning for better
terms and conditions it is also the place where members can raise issues
of concern on ethical matters, on staffing levels, and on bullying and
editorial pressure within their workplace.”

Stanistreet said in a statement: “From the outset of the Leveson inquiry, we
demanded a conscience clause to safeguard journalists who object to
being made to act unethically in the pursuit of a story.

“The
NUJ has been campaigning for years for a conscience clause in contracts
of employment and we are delighted that Lord Justice Leveson has
listened to the voice of journalists.

“The
NUJ will now do all it can to ensure that when journalists stand up for
a principle of journalistic ethics they have a contractual protection
against being dismissed.

“Now
is the time to build a solid framework that gives journalists the
confidence and the security to put their head above the parapet and take
a stand for ethical journalism.

“A
journalist should always have the right to refuse assignments and no
journalist should be disciplined or suffer detriment to their career for
asserting his or her right to act ethically.

“The new independent self-regulatory body should ensure that journalists’ contracts include a conscience clause.

“The
NUJ welcomes Lord Justice Leveson’s support for a free press and
independent regulation of the press - independent of both government and
of the industry.

“We’re
also pleased that the recommendations include civic society involvement
and the recommendation that the new body needs an independent chair and
board appointed in a fair and transparent process. The board should
include the voice of journalists, through the NUJ. We explained to Lord
Leveson, in our unique position as the media trade union recognised by
the inquiry as a core participant in his hearings, that NUJ workplace
organisation is not simply the vehicle for putting together pay claims
and campaigning for jobs, terms and conditions. It is also the means
through which journalists can raise issues of concern on ethical
matters, bullying and editorial pressure.

“The
NUJ supports the recommendation that the new body should accept third
party complaints, provide incentives and tackle prejudicial or
pejorative references to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or
physical or mental illness or disability.

“It
is disappointing that Lord Leveson has not made recommendations in
relation to media ownership and plurality - it is significant that the
unfolding scandal at News International happened in a company with a
35.15% share of the market and in a workplace where the NUJ has been
effectively blocked by Rupert Murdoch for years.

About Me

I am a freelance journalist based in the UK and was deputy editor of Press Gazette, the journalists' magazine, from 1993 until 2006. I want to give an independent view on media matters.
You can contact me with stories, ideas and comments by email at jon.slattery369@btinternet.com You can also follow me on Twitter @jonslattery